Written Answers Wednesday 4 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people under the age of 18 in the Lothians parliamentary region have had alcohol confiscated from them in the most recent year for which figures are available, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table, which shows all offences recorded under section 61 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997.

  The police have powers under section 61 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997 to confiscate alcohol from under 18s in a public place and dispose of it. Under this section, the police also have powers to confiscate alcohol from persons aged 18 or over, in a public place and dispose of it if that person has supplied, or intends to supply, alcohol to under 18s. If the alcohol is surrendered to the police, it is not an offence and so is not included in the recorded crime statistics. It is, however, an offence to fail to comply, for example by failing to surrender the alcohol or by failing to give his name and address if requested. The number of these criminal offences are shown in the table. It should be noted that this cannot be assumed to be a true representation of the number of incidents where alcohol was confiscated.

  Number of Offences Recorded by Lothian and Borders Police under Section 61 of the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Act 1997, by Local Authority Area, 2006-07

  

 Local Authority Area
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07


 City of Edinburgh
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 East Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Midlothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Scottish Borders
 0
 1
 0
 1
 2


 West Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Lothian and Borders
 0
 1
 0
 1
 3

Ambulance Service

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of temporary and agency staff in the Scottish Ambulance Service for 2007-08 and what it is for 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that the final budget for temporary and agency staff in 2007-08 was £96,800. The current planned budget for 2008-09 is £85,500 though this figure is subject to revision over the course of the year.

Bankruptcy

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies registered in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun and (b) Scotland went into liquidation in each year since 1999.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not held centrally.

  The official insolvency statistics, published by the Insolvency Service, are the most comprehensive record of the number of corporate and individual insolvencies. However, these figures are only published at a Scotland level.

  The following table presents figures for insolvencies in Scotland from 1998 to 2007.

  

 Year
 Individuals
 Companies


 Total
 Sequestrations
 Protected Trust Deeds
 Compulsory Liquidations
 Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidations
 Total


 1998
 4,465
 3,016
 1,449
 338
 228
 566


 1999
 5,339
 3,195
 2,144
 364
 208
 572


 2000
 5,766
 2,965
 2,801
 344
 239
 583


 2001
 6,827
 3,048
 3,779
 378
 224
 602


 2002
 8,389
 3,215
 5,174
 556
 232
 788


 2003
 8,780
 3,328
 5,452
 436
 195
 631


 2004
 9,321
 3,297
 6,024
 431
 190
 621


 2005
 11,846
 4,965
 6,881
 420
 149
 569


 2006
 13,638
 5,430
 8,208
 416
 133
 549


 2007
 13,814
 6,219
 7,595
 439
 100
 539



  Source: The Insolvency Service.

  Note: Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB), an agency of the Scottish Government, is responsible for administering the process of personal bankruptcy and recording corporate insolvencies in Scotland. Further information about insolvency in Scotland can be found on the AiB website at www.aib.gov.uk.

Central Heating

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, following the change in policy announced by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 22 May 2008 ( Official Report , c. 8934-51), how it intends to ensure that vulnerable groups, such as pensioners, continue to benefit from the free central heating installation scheme.

Stewart Maxwell: Our policy on tackling fuel poverty has not changed. The statement last week outlined how the current central heating programme does not tackle fuel poverty effectively. The changes that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced for this financial year are designed to ensure that those pensioners most vulnerable to fuel poverty are the first to benefit from a free central heating system. Going forward, the re-convened Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum will advise ministers on the best way of tackling fuel poverty in future years.

Community Planning Partnerships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether community planning partnerships have carried out equality impact assessments on their draft spending plans.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is written evidence that community planning partnerships have carried out equality impact assessments on their draft spending plans.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of there being no written evidence that equality impact assessments have been carried out by community planning partnerships on their draft spending plans, these plans will not be signed off by the Scottish Government.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in the event of there being no written evidence that equality impact assessments have been carried out by community planning partnerships on their draft spending plans, these plans will be referred back for this process to take place.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all equality impact assessments on the draft spending plans of community planning partnerships will be made publicly available.

John Swinney: Responsibility for the implementation of community planning sits with the partnerships themselves and it is up to individual partnerships to decide how they consider financial planning, within the overall context of Scottish Government priorities.

  The Local Government (Scotland) Act 2003 provides a statutory framework for best value and community planning and provides a statutory underpinning for the mainstreaming of equal opportunities in the implementation of these duties.

Construction Industry

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it made a submission to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) prior to the OFT issuing Information note to Local Authorities and other procuring entities regarding OFT Statement of Objections concerning alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the construction industry.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government did not make a submission to OFT prior to the issue of the OFT Information note. OFT has confirmed that in order to maintain strict confidentiality it did not disclose the emerging findings of its investigation of alleged anti-competitive practices in the construction industry, or the timing of their release, with any other public body prior to the publication of the Statement of Objections.

Construction Industry

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to take any action within its responsibilities against companies named in Information note to Local Authorities and other procuring entities regarding OFT Statement of Objections concerning alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the construction industry.

John Swinney: The OFT information note states that the OFT investigation has not yet been concluded. Once the outcome of the OFT investigation is known, we will consider the implications carefully and take appropriate measures in response.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote outdoor education.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3O-3379 on 22 May 2008. All answers to oral parliamentary questions are available in the Official Report .  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-08/sor0522-02.htm#Col8918 .

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education inspectors there were in each year since 2002.

Fiona Hyslop: HM Inspectorate of Education have had the following number of HM inspectors in post since 2002-03. The number provided is the average number of HM inspectors for the particular year.

  

 2002-03
 79


 2003-04
 90


 2004-05
 91


 2005-06
 96


 2006-07
 89


 2007-08
 95

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inspections were carried out by HM Inspectorate of Education inspectors in each year since 2002, broken down by local authority.

Fiona Hyslop: HM Inspectorate of Education have carried out the following number of inspections per authority since 2002, the figures below include all education authority schools including those schools which are grant-aided.

  Total Number of Primary, Secondary and Special School Inspections from 2002-08

  

 Education Authority
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08
 Total


 Aberdeen City
 8
 5
 9
 7
 9
 7
 45


 Aberdeenshire
 17
 13
 23
 19
 19
 16
 107


 Angus
 11
 6
 8
 8
 6
 6
 45


 Argyll and Bute
 9
 12
 12
 11
 11
 6
 61


 Clackmannanshire
 4
 3
 2
 2
 2
 5
 18


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5
 14
 13
 16
 12
 13
 73


 Dundee City
 5
 6
 5
 7
 8
 4
 35


 East Ayrshire
 13
 5
 5
 6
 6
 5
 40


 East Dunbartonshire
 5
 9
 4
 5
 5
 6
 34


 East Lothian
 2
 5
 6
 5
 6
 4
 28


 East Renfrewshire
 3
 3
 2
 3
 5
 3
 19


 Edinburgh, City of
 12
 12
 17
 15
 13
 13
 82


 Eilean Siar
 7
 5
 2
 6
 3
 4
 27


 Falkirk
 5
 5
 8
 6
 7
 6
 37


 Fife
 15
 17
 21
 22
 21
 18
 114


 Glasgow City
 27
 23
 27
 32
 29
 28
 166


 Highland
 18
 15
 23
 28
 26
 30
 140


 Inverclyde
 4
 4
 4
 5
 6
 5
 28


 Midlothian
 5
 5
 7
 4
 3
 3
 27


 Moray
 0
 7
 9
 6
 4
 5
 31


 North Ayrshire
 9
 5
 9
 9
 6
 9
 47


 North Lanarkshire
 21
 13
 19
 19
 24
 16
 112


 Orkney Islands
 3
 4
 3
 4
 3
 4
 21


 Perth and Kinross
 8
 9
 12
 10
 8
 10
 57


 Renfrewshire
 7
 8
 4
 8
 7
 9
 43


 Scottish Borders
 6
 7
 9
 11
 8
 8
 49


 Shetland Islands
 5
 4
 3
 5
 5
 5
 27


 South Ayrshire
 9
 6
 6
 4
 5
 8
 38


 South Lanarkshire
 7
 13
 18
 20
 19
 17
 94


 Stirling
 6
 7
 4
 6
 7
 6
 36


 West Dunbartonshire
 0
 5
 4
 6
 6
 5
 26


 West Lothian
 6
 7
 10
 9
 8
 13
 53


 Total
 262
 262
 308
 324
 307
 297
 1760

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what courses were attended by HM Inspectorate of Education inspectors in each of the last three years as part of their continuous professional development.

Fiona Hyslop: Since 2005, all HM inspectors have attended the following corporate events organised by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE). The following table contains details of all events attended by HM inspectors. Some events will have been attended by more than one HM Inspector. The list also includes events planned for later this year.

  

 HMIE National Conference (February 2005)
 1 day


 Corporate Training (June 2005)
 1 day


 HMIE National Seminar (August 2005)
 2 days


 Corporate Training (August 2005)
 1 day


 Corporate Training (December 2005)
 1 day


 HMIE National Conference (February 2006)
 1 day


 Corporate Training (June 2006)
 1 day


 HMIE National Seminar (August 2006)
 3 days


 Corporate Training (December 2006)
 1 day


 HMIE National Conference (February 2007)
 1 day


 Corporate Training (June 2007)
 1 day


 HMIE National Seminar (August 2007)
 3 days


 Corporate Training (December 2007)
 1 day


 HMIE National Conference (February 2008)
 1 day


 Corporate Training (April 2008)
 4 days


 Corporate Training (June 2008)
 3 days


 HMIE National Seminar (August 2008)
 2 day


 Corporate Training (December 2008)
 1 day



  In addition to these training events, HM inspectors will also attend HMIE directorate conferences at least once each year. If their responsibilities takes them across different sectors i.e. primary, secondary, services for children etc, HM inspectors could attend more than one directorate event each year.

  In conjunction with the Kiel Centre, HMIE has also drawn up a best practice framework for all HM Inspectors and tailored training events to develop and build on coaching techniques were arranged in June and August 2007, and in January, February and May 2008. Further events are planned for June, July, September and December 2008.

  There are also "drop-in" sessions offered to all HM inspectors when a new process is introduced. These sessions are arranged at various times in the various HMIE offices across the country to allow staff the opportunity to learn more about new processes in their local environment.

  HMIE also support HM inspectors in undertaking specific job related and developmental training.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education inspectors in each year since 2001 were formerly qualified teachers, shown also as a percentage of the total number of inspectors.

Fiona Hyslop: The information requested is not held in a format which allows the question to be answered directly. However, HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) currently has 108 inspectors and assistant chief inspectors and from that group, 92 were previously qualified teachers and two were qualified lecturers in further education colleges. This equates to 87% of the current inspector group.

  Those inspectors from outwith teaching/lecturing, will be involved in other aspects of HMIE’s work i.e. community learning and development, services for children and as a consequence, will have a background in community education, health, educational psychology, criminal justice and social work.

  Since January 2005, 48 inspectors and assistant chief inspectors have retired or resigned and of that group, 42 were previously qualified teachers and five qualified lecturers in further education colleges. This equates to 97.9% of that group. The inspector without a teaching background was a qualified social worker involved in services for children inspections.

  Since January 2005, there are and have been 156 inspectors and assistant chief inspectors involved in HMIE inspections, 141 were previously qualified teachers and qualified lecturers in further education colleges which equates to 90%.

Education

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many HM Inspectorate of Education assistant inspectors were appointed in each year since 2001.

Fiona Hyslop: Assistant inspectors are appointed by HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) to undertake a number of days’ work each year. They comprise retired HM inspectors or others with up-to-date knowledge of and a background in education and services for children and young people, including experience in inspection and review procedures and quality assurance work. They can be called upon at short notice to meet certain peaks of activity or unforeseen demands. This flexibility makes them a valuable resource to HMIE.

  HMIE first appointed assistant inspectors in 2003. Since then, the following have been appointed each year.

  

 2003
 8


 2004
 5


 2005
 4


 2006
 17


 2007
 15


 2008
 1


 Total
 50



  There are currently 35 assistant inspectors working with HMIE.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibilities are placed on landowners under sites of special scientific interest and special protected area designations.

Michael Russell: The responsibilities placed on owners of land notified as (or as part of) a site of special scientific interest in Scotland are set out in the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. Further information is available in the explanatory notes which accompany that act.

  The Conservation (Natural Habitats,&.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) provide for the protection of sites protected under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives.

  Regulation 18 defines an offence of recklessly or intentionally causing damage to a protected site. Part IV of the regulations make provision for the adaptation of planning and certain other controls for the protection of sites.

  Regulation 3(4) requires every competent authority, in the exercise of any of their functions, to have regard to the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive so far as they may be affected by the exercise of those functions.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether sites of special scientific interest designation apply to landowners around Cape Wrath.

Michael Russell: Land at Cape Wrath has been notified as a site of special scientific interest. Further information (including a map of the SSSI) is available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website at the following address:

  http://www.gateway.snh.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=53,910305,53_922284&_dad=portal&_ schema=PORTAL&PA_CODE=311&NEW_WINDOW=false.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a special protected area designation applies to landowners around Cape Wrath.

Michael Russell: Land at Cape Wrath has been classified a special protection area under the EC Birds Directive. Further information, including a map, is available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website at the following address:

  http://www.gateway.snh.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=53,910305,53_910314&_dad=portal&_ schema=PORTAL&PA_CODE=8481&NEW_WINDOW=false.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what restrictions have been placed by Scottish Natural Heritage on landowners around Cape Wrath in the nesting season.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has advised that there are no restrictions specific to the nesting season in the Cape Wrath site of special scientific interest (SSSI). There is, however, a list of operations requiring consent; owners and occupiers must apply for and obtain consent from SNH before carrying out, causing or permitting to be carried out any of the operations specified on land within the SSSI.

  The list of Operations Requiring Consent for the Cape Wrath SSSI is available on the SNH website at the following web address:

  http://www.gateway.snh.gov.uk/pls/portal/Sitelink.Show_Site_Document?p_pa_code=311&p_Doc_Type_ID=28.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent Scottish Natural Heritage was consulted by the Ministry of Defence before it conducted live firing exercises during the bird nesting season.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a member of the Cape Wrath Conservation Group which meets twice a year. The meetings are chaired alternately by Defence Training Estates and a member of the Durness Community Council. Discussions take place at these meetings on the timing of military exercises but there is no formal consultation with SNH regarding specific operations in the area. The most recent meeting was held on 12 December 2007.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice was given by Scottish Natural Heritage to the Ministry of Defence about live firing exercises during the bird nesting season.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage gave advice in July 2007 to Defence Estates’ Environmental Support Team staff during discussions on the drafting of the Cape Wrath Integrated Rural Management Plan such that joint maritime course exercises be excluded from the bird breeding season from late April to early July.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence is available from Scottish Natural Heritage with regard to the extent to which the Ministry of Defence followed guidelines or rules laid down for live firing exercises during the nesting season.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage has not issued any guidelines or rules for the conduct of live firing exercises during the nesting season.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what damage was done to the designated land around Cape Wrath by the heath fire in May 2008.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage has advised that the May 2008 heath fire at Cape Wrath caused no damage to designated land.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether estimates have been made by Scottish Natural Heritage of the likely time needed for the habitats around Cape Wrath to recover from the heath fire in May 2008.

Michael Russell: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has advised that various habitat types including wet heath and blanket bog over an area of 137 ha were affected by the heath fire in May 2008. SNH estimates that it will take between five and 10 years for the vegetation to recover, although some bird species may recommence nesting in affected areas as soon as next year. Recovery time for the affected blanket bog is unknown and will depend amongst other things on the depth of penetration of the fire into the peat.

Forensic Science

Nigel Don (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police officer hours were used transporting crime scene samples to forensic labs in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The deployment of police officers is an operational matter for Chief Constables. Detailed information on police office deployment is not held centrally.

Further and Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place since May 2007 with higher and further education institutions regarding changes to the school curriculum.

Maureen Watt: Representatives from Universities Scotland, the Association of Scottish Colleges and Scottish Further Education Unit (SFEU) are members of the Scottish Government’s National Qualifications Steering Group which has considered a range of issues relating to the Curriculum for Excellence programme since May 2007.

  The Scottish Government has provided funding to the SFEU to hold a series of events and workshops on the implications of Curriculum for Excellence for the college sector. Since May 2007 they have held two senior management events and four events for practitioners.

  Members of the Scottish Government have also held discussions with UCAS’s Scottish Reference Group for the higher education sector.

  SFEU are working with Learning and Teaching Scotland (LTS) to involve nine colleges in the trialling of the Curriculum for Excellence draft learning experiences and outcomes. College staff are being invited to an induction session on Curriculum for Excellence and the trialling process.

  Scottish Government and LTS officials have also had frequent meetings with representatives from higher and further education institutions regarding changes to the school curriculum since May 2007.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the availability is of thrombophilia screening for individuals considered to be at high risk.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have accepted the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) that there is no evidence to support screening for thrombophilia in asymptomatic women prior to prescription of oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The NSC goes on to recommend that a woman with a personal history of venous thrombosis should be advised to avoid oral contraception and HRT if acceptable alternatives are available, and should be counselled regarding the level of risk faced.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that women taking hormone replacement therapy or the contraceptive pill are forewarned of the possible risk of thrombosis associated with such medication.

Nicola Sturgeon: In primary care, the risks and benefits of any prescribed medication are discussed during consultation between the patient and their GP. This would include the risks of thrombosis associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the contraceptive pill, which are well-known.

  Pharmacists will discuss the indications, contra-indications, drug interactions and side effects with the patient before dispensing medication. There is also a legal requirement for each prescription for HRT and the oral contraceptive pill to contain an information leaflet which describes product characteristics, including the risk of thrombosis.

  We would also expect clinicians providing maternity services to assess pregnant women for risk factors for DVT as part of their clinical assessment, and to provide further management in line with the current clinical guidelines produced by SIGN and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

  In addition, we have commissioned Lifeblood, the thrombosis charity, to develop a general information leaflet on DVT. The leaflet includes guidance for individuals considered to be at high risk, including those on HRT and the oral contraceptive pill, and mentions that a simple blood test is available which may show a genetic susceptibility to DVT. The leaflet has been distributed to every GP practice in Scotland so that it can be on display and available to the general public.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether population screening for thrombophilia could reduce the concerns of users of contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy about the risks of deep vein thrombosis.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have accepted the recommendation of the UK National Screening Committee (NSC) that it would be inappropriate to introduce population screening for thrombophilia.

  The risks of thrombosis associated with hormone replacement therapy and the contraceptive pill are well-known. These would be discussed by the woman and her GP. As mentioned in the answer to question S3W-13398 on 4 June 2008, the NSC recommends that a woman with a personal history of venous thrombosis should be advised to avoid oral contraception and HRT if acceptable alternatives are available, and should be counselled regarding the level of risk faced.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether women contemplating pregnancy could be offered testing for thrombophilia as a means of reducing concerns about the risks of deep vein thrombosis and miscarriage.

Nicola Sturgeon: We have accepted the expert advice from the National Screening Committee (NSC) on the subject, which does not recommend screening for thrombophilia every woman contemplating pregnancy, on the grounds that there is not sufficient evidence to support this.

  Should new evidence emerge, the NSC will consider it and advise the UK health ministers accordingly.

  Whether or not women should be tested for thrombophilia prior to seeking pregnancy is a clinical decision for the woman and her medical advisors. Such investigations are included in recommendations from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for women who have experienced recurrent miscarriages.

  We also expect clinicians providing maternity services to assess pregnant women for risk factors for deep vein thrombosis as part of their clinical assessment.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost would be of screening people deemed to be at risk of thrombophilia.

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the cost of screening for thrombophilia compares with the cost of treatment for venous thromboembolism-related disease.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

Health

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to campaign or carry out advertising to raise awareness of thrombophilia.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Medical Officer and the Chairman of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) have written to NHS boards asking them to ensure that consistent and accessible patient information on the prevention and management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is available. Boards have provided reassurance that they have reviewed, or are reviewing, their policies and procedures in line with the SIGN guidelines and that they have reviewed and are implementing their patient information leaflets.

  NHS QIS will follow up progress with boards in November 2008.

  We have also commissioned Lifeblood, the thrombosis charity, to develop a general information leaflet on DVT, in conjunction with the McPherson family. The leaflet includes guidance for individuals considered to be at high risk and mentions that a blood test is available which may show a genetic susceptibility to DVT. The leaflet has been distributed to every GP practice in Scotland so that it can be displayed and made available to the general public.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will respond to the consultation, Better Value from Housing Association Grant - Changes to Grant in 2008-09 .

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13606 on 30 May 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, with reference to Better Value from Housing Association Grant - Changes to Grant in 2008-09 , on what evidence it based the statement "new stock being funded by HAG ought to be less expensive to manage and maintain".

Stewart Maxwell: New homes funded by Housing Association Grant will meet higher build and design standards than older homes. The cost of managing and maintaining an additional new home will be less than the cost of managing and maintaining an existing home.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that increasing the level of private finance is the most effective way to increase the number of high quality sustainable homes built by housing associations.

Stewart Maxwell: In its 2006-07 Financial Digest the Scottish Housing Regulator has stated its view that the housing association sector continues to be financially healthy and has sufficient financial capacity to either take on further debt or to use its cash balances to contribute to the development of new supply.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps is it taking to encourage housing associations to pursue a social enterprise agenda.

Stewart Maxwell: The forthcoming Enterprising Third Sector Action Plan 2008-11 recognises the role of Registered Social Landlords, including housing associations, in developing and supporting social enterprise and will provide support for their activities. This is currently under development and will be with ministers shortly. It is expected to be launched during June.

Housing

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average cost is of building various types of council houses by the number of bedrooms.

Stewart Maxwell: This is a matter for local authorities. The information requested is not held centrally.

Ministerial Engagements

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many ministerial engagements have been held in the Aberdeen Central parliamentary constituency since 16 May 2007, broken down by (a) ministerial portfolio, (b) date and (c) location.

John Swinney: The detailed information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member and place a copy of the letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45740) as soon as the information is available.

Ministerial Travel

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what arrangements are made for transport for Scottish ministers when travelling in other parts of the United Kingdom; on which occasion each minister, including the First Minister, made use of these arrangements since May 2007 and what cost has been incurred.

John Swinney: The information requested is currently being collated and I will write to the member and place a copy of the letter in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45741) as soon as the information is available.

Modern Apprenticeships

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on the future skills base of Scotland of its focus on Modern Apprenticeships in construction, engineering and life sciences only.

Fiona Hyslop: The package of changes to national training programmes, in particular to Modern Apprenticeships, ensures that all public investment supports The Government Economic Strategy .

  These changes will provide Skills Development Scotland the room and opportunity to ensure that national training programmes continue to meet the needs of individuals and employers in Scotland.

NHS Hospitals

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much extra it will cost the relevant NHS boards for keeping open the accident and emergency units at (a) Ayr and (b) Monklands hospitals and what adjustments have been made to NHS board services as a result.

Nicola Sturgeon: In my parliamentary statement on 27 February 2008 regarding the future of accident and emergency (A&E) services in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, I outlined the estimated additional costs likely to be incurred by both boards in maintaining A&E units at Ayr and Monklands – these figures have not changed significantly since then. It is estimated that NHS Ayrshire and Arran will incur additional one-off capital costs of £18.6 million and additional revenue costs of £5.7 million per annum (1% of revenue budget). NHS Lanarkshire expects to incur additional revenue costs of £5.3 million per annum (0.7% of revenue budget) and are continuing to develop business cases to maintain and improve the Monklands site.

  Both boards will be expected to manage all of their services, including A&E services, within the resources available to them. NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s budget increased by £17 million in 2008-09 to £547 million while NHS Lanarkshire’s budget increased by £26 million to £760 million. Both boards have agreed that the additional costs incurred in maintaining A&E services will be accommodated over a number of years within their overall budgets and their 2008-09 five-year financial plans demonstrate this.

  I have also previously confirmed that I will provide an additional £30 million capital funding for NHS Ayrshire and Arran and an additional £100 million capital funding to NHS Lanarkshire to support service reconfiguration, including the regeneration of Monklands Hospital.

NHS Waiting Times

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many operations have been cancelled in Lanarkshire in the last 12 months due to lack of beds, broken down by hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The specific information requested is not available centrally.

  ISD Scotland collect some information on the number of in-patient/day case episodes where operations/procedures were cancelled following admission to hospital. However, it is not possible to identify whether the cancellations were due to a lack of beds.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-11294 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2008, whether it will publish the 41 pre-moderated comments removed after publication on the website.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to publish the 41 comments removed after publication on the website. The comments were removed following reconsideration against the criteria used to moderate the site. It would therefore be inappropriate for the Scottish Government to publish elsewhere comments which were deemed not to meet the standards for the site.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there has been any breach of the Race Relations Act 1976 in connection with any of the comments removed from the National Conversation website.

Nicola Sturgeon: Comments removed by the moderator as a result of the ongoing review of the site are removed because they are considered to breach any part of the moderating criteria set out in the answer to S3W-11333 on 23 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has sought in relation to the prospective publication of racist comments on the National Conversation website.

Nicola Sturgeon: It is the practice of successive governments, reflected in the Scottish Ministerial Code and the provisions of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, that the fact and content of legal advice is not revealed.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the criteria adopted for moderating the National Conversation website take into account the provisions of the Race Relations Act 1976.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government definition, used in the application of the moderating criteria, that racism "can be indirect, direct or institutional, and that racism is unacceptable in any context no matter who it is perpetrated by or against", is consistent with the Race Relations Act 1976 as amended in 2000.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why, in the context of the National Conversation website, the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing considers "Spiderman" to be a reliable source of advice in relation to Scotland’s constitutional future.

Nicola Sturgeon: Contributors to the National Conversation website may submit comments under any name, as long they do so in line with the criteria used for the moderation of the site.

  The National Conversation is an open and inclusive debate, where all contributions posted according to the moderating criteria are welcome and valid.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing confirmed the authenticity of "Spiderman’s" contribution to the National Conversation in advance of quoting his comments.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-7812 on 10 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which MEPs attended the First Minister’s National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: Ian Hudghton MEP attended the event personally, and several other MEPs were represented by their assistants.

National Conversation

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which organisations attended the First Minister’s National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: A list of the organisations represented at the National Conversation event in Brussels on 23 April 2008 is provided below:

  

 European Commission


 European Parliament


 Council of the EU


 Committee of the Regions


 Flemish Permanent Representative to the EU


 Belgian National Committee for SMEs


 Delegation du pays basque


 NASC (West Ireland Liaison Office)


 Flemish Permanent Representation to the EU


 Catalonia representation to the EU


 North Westphalia Representation to the EU


 Flemish Department for Foreign Affairs


 British Council Brussels


 Scotland Europa


 Highlands and Islands Enterprise


 Scottish Government 


 Scottish Parliament


 Welsh Assembly Government


 Northern Ireland Executive


 Law societies Joint Brussels office


 Sun Microsystem


 European Policy Centre


 Callanish Health


 Cabinet Stewart


 Hill & Knowlton 


 Chaps Law


 White & Case


The Times

Planning

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications it considered in 2007-08 and how many were dealt with after a public inquiry, broken down by those recommended for (a) approval and (b) refusal and showing in each case whether ministers (i) accepted or (ii) rejected the recommendations of the reporter.

Stewart Stevenson: During the period 1 January 2007 to 30 May 2008, 379 planning applications were notified to Scottish ministers for consideration, of which 24 were called in for determination by ministers. Of these, four were recommended for approval and two for refusal. In each case the Scottish ministers accepted the reporter’s recommendation. Of the remainder, one application was withdrawn, two call in directions were revoked and reports are still awaited from the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals for the other 15 applications.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the investigation announced by the Office of Fair Trading on 17 April 2008 into allegations of price fixing in tenders by Interserve PLC, whether or not the tender for HM Prison Addiewell is among those under investigation.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  No.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the investigation announced by the Office of Fair Trading on 17 April 2008 into allegations of price fixing in tenders by Interserve PLC, what action it is taking to ascertain whether there has been any price fixing by Interserve or any other company involved in tendering for the contract for HM Prison Addiewell.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The tender for HM Prison Addiewell was made by Addiewell Prison Limited and it is not among those under investigation.

  We have reviewed the procurement procedures for award of the contract and are satisfied that all reasonable steps to identify anti-competitive tendering were taken. These steps included receipt of signed statements from all bidders confirming that their tenders were bona fide competitive bids.

Prison Service

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the implications are for the contract for HM Prison Addiewell of the investigation announced by the Office of Fair Trading on 17 April 2008 into allegations of price fixing in tenders by Interserve PLC.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  None.

Public Sector Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive which legislative provisions prohibit (a) it and (b) other organisations in the public sector in Scotland not classed as local authorities from borrowing money.

John Swinney: There is a wide range of legislative provisions which form the legal foundation of public bodies in Scotland. Section 66 of the Scotland Act 1998 establishes the powers of Scottish ministers and does not give them, or the bodies directly controlled by them such as health boards, general powers to borrow (there are some marginal exceptions).

  The cost of a legal search to answer this question in greater definition could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Public Services

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to report to the Parliament on the outcome of the Crerar review of scrutiny of public bodies.

John Swinney: Professor Crerar published The report of the independent review of regulation, audit, inspection and complaints handling of public services in Scotland on 25 September 2007. This was debated by the Parliament on 3 October 2007. The Scottish Government carefully considered the Crerar Review and the issues raised in the debate and published its response on 17 January 2008.

  In the response the government accepted most of the recommendations in the review but identified some recommendations where further work was required. We will provide an update to Parliament on progress with this work by summer recess.

Schools

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made in delivering the SNP manifesto commitment to ensure that there is renewable generation in every school.

Maureen Watt: Under the terms of the historic concordat signed between COSLA and the Scottish Government last year, we are committed to working with local authorities to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.

  We have recently widened the Central Energy Efficiency Fund, which is a rolling loan fund, to allow authorities to invest in renewable as well as in energy efficiency technologies. We have increased funding under our renewables grants programme and we will fund dedicated schools development officers to provide advice to authorities and ensure they have a better awareness of how they can access grants for renewable technologies through the UK-wide Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many vacancies for (a) primary and (b) secondary school teachers are expected for the new academic year 2008-09.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13205 on 4 June 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Schools

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new (a) primary and (b) secondary schools it expects to have agreed contracts for construction for each local authority during the financial year 2008-09 and how this compares with 2007-08.

Maureen Watt: Local authorities are responsible for decisions on capital investment in school buildings. The Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive information about the timing of local authorities’ entering into school construction contracts, although some details, as provided by authorities, are set out in the recently published Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008 of planned 2008-09 expenditure on school investment projects of over £5 million. (Available on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/28122237/0 ).

  However, we anticipate that, with the funding we have put in place, authorities will be enabled, in the context both of new build and refurbishment and through a range of funding mechanisms, to complete or have under construction around 250 schools during the current parliamentary period.

Scottish Government Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many days have been lost through sickness in each directorate of the Scottish Executive in each month of 2007-08.

John Swinney: The following table shows the number of sick days in each Directorate-General in each month from June 2007, which is the month the new Scottish Government structure was introduced, to March 2008, which is the most recent month for which we have complete figures.

  

 Directorate General
June 2007
July 2007
Augus t2007
September 2007
October 2007
November 2007
December 2007
January 2008
February 2008
March 2008


 Economy
 295
 389
 465
 348.5
 401
 479
 418
 501
 508
 400


 Education
 271
 285
 374
 304.5
 512
 650
 484
 473
 531
 481


 Environment
 642
 641
 747
 639.5
 859
 922
 617
 758
 716
 764


 Health
 211
 240
 351
 308.5
 444
 366
 253
 294
 331
 253


 Justice
 297
 357
 432
 351.5
 443
 426
 378
 538
 428
 424


PermanentSecretary
 588
 679
 742
 617
 914
 990
 705
 806
 822
 732


CentrallyPaid
 22
 44
 23
 27.5
 46
 50
 59
 27
 43
 42



  Note: *The data for DG Environment and Permanent Secretary appear disproportionately high. However, these account for approximately 43% of total head count.

Student Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions were held with student representatives prior to its decision that changes to means testing for student loans and bursaries would apply to both existing and new students.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10215 on 5 March 2008 . All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what future workforce needs assessment of teaching numbers has been undertaken.

Maureen Watt: Estimates of the future requirements for teachers are set out in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland 2007 and can be accessed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/114 .

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many permanent teaching posts it expects to be available for the 2008-09 academic year.

Maureen Watt: The Scottish Government carries out an annual teacher workforce planning exercise overseen by a group with representatives of COSLA, the General Teaching Council for Scotland, teacher unions higher education institutes and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education. Estimates of the future requirements for new teachers are set out in the statistical bulletin Teachers in Scotland 2007 and can be accessed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/18093809/114.

  The contractual arrangements for teachers are matters for local authorities as employers. The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers has agreed a code of practice which states that while recognising service needs local authorities should be providing opportunities for teachers to gain secure employment.

Teachers

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of permanent teaching posts in special education institutions.

Maureen Watt: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-13208 on 4 June 2008 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the implementation of the report, Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime, by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland.

Michael Russell: The Organisational changes recommended for the Partnership for Action against Wildlife Crime (PAW), will be put in place over the summer.

  Similarly those recommendations relating to the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), where not in place will be implemented over the same time period. Recommendations for the police are for the chief constables to consider.

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the implementation of the recommendations of the report, Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime, by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland and the Inspectorate of Prosecution in Scotland, will be funded centrally or from the core police budget.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government in conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage will provide limited funding over the next two years to enable PAW to take a more active short term role supporting projects promoting good practice in wildlife crime enforcement.

  Funding of recommendations which are relevant to the Police and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service will be considered separately by these organisations.

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how quickly each police force in Scotland can appoint a wildlife crime co-ordinator.

Kenny MacAskill: The deployment of personnel is an operational matter for individual Chief Constables to determine. The recommendations of the report Natural Justice: A Joint Thematic Inspection of the Arrangements in Scotland for Preventing, Investigating and Prosecuting Wildlife Crime, are currently being considered by the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland.

Wildlife

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on snaring since the Minister for Environment’s statement to the Parliament on 20 February 2008 ( Official Report , c.6079-91).

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is establishing a working group to develop the detail of new legislation to regulate the use of snares. The group will include land management and animal welfare groups. It is expected that the group will submit proposals later this year.